Gen Z

noun

ˈjen-ˈzē 

: generation z

Gen Z is as nuanced and complex as every generation before them … In fact, they are considered to be the most diverse and multicultural generation ever.

—Andrew Kelly and Guy Cierzan

Gen Z is incredibly media savvy, so the challenge for marketers is trying to connect with an audience that already knows every marketing trick in the book.

—Chirag Kulkarni

—often used before another noun

Gen Z activists are using social media to start movements and gather the momentum they need to make positive changes in the world.

—Savanna Smith

—often hyphenated in such use

Gen-Z students/consumers

Gen Zer

ˈjen-ˈzē-ər 

noun

or Gen-Zer

plural Gen Zers or Gen-Zers

… even the oldest Gen Zer was just a tween when the iPhone was released in 2007.

—Ryan Kelly

Though many tend to lump them together, millennials and Gen Zers are two very different cohorts.

—Chad Recchia

Examples of Gen Z in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The unemployment rate for Gen Z is more than double the national rate, which means freelance work may be a necessity as much as a choice. —Diane Brady, Fortune, 6 Oct. 2025

Barna Group’s vice president of research, Daniel Copeland, said that most adults attend church around two out of every five weekends, but Gen Z is reversing the flow. —Mitch Picasso, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025

As traditional forms of challenging political discontent become more challenging, Gen Z are looking to their peers in other countries for a roadmap. —Kara Fox, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025

Kylie Cooper | Reuters Gen Z's buying power Analysts expect the vinyl market to keep expanding, though not at the explosive pace seen during the pandemic. —Luke Fountain, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1996, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Gen Z

• bens
• cleanse
• dens
• gens
• glens
• hens
• jens
• pens
• tens
• wrens
• zens
• cheyennes